Wishlist
Menu
Cart
HouseofNames
Wishlist
Cart

Show ContentsCartwright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • England England
Product

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

4.9 Average Rating

The Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain were the first to use the name of Cartwright. The name had a practical origin since it came from when its initial bearer worked as a maker of carts, and wheels. The name has its origins in the Old English word craet, which means cart, and the Old English word wyrtha, which means wright or maker, thereby denoting one who was the maker of carts or wagons. 1

The name could also have been "from Cauterêts; a location name in Normandy Cateray in Roll of Battell Abbey. De Ceterith, a tenant in chief in the Domesday Book. " 2

Another source notes the family is "armorially identified with Cateryke, or Catherick (Robson). Catherick was part of the demesne of the Earls of Richmond, and the surname therefore probably arose from tenure of the office of Seneschal by a branch of a neighbouring family. The arms (a fesse) are those of the adjoining family of De Smythton or Eschalers, with three cinquefoils for difference, which were afterwards corrupted into ‘roses', 'Catherine wheels', and ‘fire-balls with rays.’ Of this family Ilbert de Catherege, or Catherage (a form of Catheric), occurs in Normandy, 1180-98 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); which shows the Norman origin of the family. A branch long remained at Stanwick, in Richmondshire, close to Catterick. Another branch was seated in Notts, and one in Cambridge; and the name there changed from Cateryke to Cartwright." 3

Early Origins of the Cartwright family

The surname Cartwright was first found in Yorkshire where early rolls listed the name as a profession and a surname. The Poll Tax of Howdenshire (East Riding of Yorkshire) listed Robert le Cartwright. B. Johannes Toppe, cartwryght. In the same year the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed: Magota Cartwryght; Henriciis Wryght, catrwryght (sic); Johannes Warde, cartwright; Johannes Percivale, cartwryght and Geoffrey Cartewirght. 4

Early History of the Cartwright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cartwright research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1535, 1602, 1603, 1611, 1634, 1635, 1643, 1658, 1659, 1661, 1676, 1686, 1689, 1703 and 1755 are included under the topic Early Cartwright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cartwright Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Cartwright include Cartwright, Cartright, Cartwrite, Carthright, Kartwright, Kartright, Cartrite, Kartwrite, Chartwright, Cartrite, Catherick, Cartrait, Cartray, Ceterith, Cateray, Cautheret, Carterwright, Carterright, Carterrite, Chartright, Chartwright, Cardwright and many more.

Early Notables of the Cartwright family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603), described by Strype (Annals, ii. i. c. 1) as 'the head and most learned of that sect of dissenters then called Puritans,' was a native of Hertfordshire, but his place of...
  • Christopher Cartwright (1602-1658), was an English divine, born in the parish of St. Michael-le-Belfry, York. He was a Hebraist and used targums in Biblical exegesis, following the lead of Henry Ainsw...
  • William Cartwright (1634-1676), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659; Thomas Cartwright (1634-1689), was an English bishop and diarist, Bishop of Chester in 1686, supporte...
  • George Cartwright (fl. 1661), was an English dramatist and author of a solitary tragedy entitled 'The Heroick Lover, or the Infanta of Spain,' London, 1661, 8vo, dedicated to Charles II. 5
  • William Cartwright (1611-1643), was an English dramatist and divine, born in September 1611 at Northway, near Tewkesbury, the son of a William Cartwright who, after squandering a fair inheritance, had...
  • William Cartwright (died 1686), was an English actor and member of the King's Revels Men, one of the founding "sharers" (partners) in the King's Company; and Thomas Cartwright (c.1635-1703), was an En...

Cartwright World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cartwright is the 1,245th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Cartwright is ranked the 779th most popular surname with an estimated 4,997 people with that name. 7 And in New Zealand, the name Cartwright is the 802nd popular surname with an estimated 911 people with that name. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Cartwright as 357th with 17,569 people. 9

United States Cartwright migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Cartwright or a variant listed above:

Cartwright Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Cartwright, who settled in Virginia in 1624
  • Bethia Cartwright who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1630
  • Edward Cartwright in Nantucket married and had Sampson in 1678, Susanna in 1681, Edward in 1683, and Mary in 1687
Cartwright Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Matthew Cartwright, who settled in Maryland in 1700

Canada Cartwright migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cartwright Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Richard Cartwright Sr., U.E. (b. 1720) born in London, England from Albany, New York, USA who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1783 he emigrated to America in 1742, married to Johanna Beasley in 1743 they had 1 child, he died in 1794 in Kingston, Ontario 10
  • Secretary Richard Cartwright Jr., U.E. (b. 1759) born in Albany, New York, USA from Albany, New York, USA who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1783 he served in Butler's Rangers Regiment, died in 1812 10

Australia Cartwright migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cartwright Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Cartwright, English convict who was convicted in Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. Benjamin Cartwright, (b. 1804), aged 23, English miner who was convicted in Shropshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Joseph Cartwright, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. James Cartwright, (b. 1807), aged 24, English errand boy who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Miss Sarah Cartwright, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 20th June 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Cartwright migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cartwright Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Cartwright, (b. 1836), aged 26, British labourer from Lancashire, travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 16
  • Mr. Cartwright, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1868 16
  • John H. Cartwright, aged 22, a smiths labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Salisbury" in 1874
  • Caroline Cartwright, aged 24, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Salisbury" in 1874
  • Mr. William Cartwright, (b. 1834), aged 40, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Halcione" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in September 1875 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cartwright (post 1700) +

  • Nancy Cartwright (b. 1957), American Emmy Award winning actress and comedian, best known as the voice of Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, and Todd Flanders on The Simpsons
  • William T. "Bill" Cartwright (1920-2013), Emmy Award-winning American television and film director, producer and editor
  • Marc Cartwright (b. 1975), American celebrity portrait photographer
  • Bill Cartwright (b. 1957), former NBA basketball player
  • Angela Margaret Cartwright (b. 1952), American actress best known as a child actress for her role as Brigitta Von Trapp in the film The Sound of Music
  • Erik Cartwright (b. 1950), American rock guitarist
  • General James E. "Hoss" Cartwright (b. 1949), American eighth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Veronica A. Cartwright (b. 1949), American (British born) actress
  • Arthur Cartwright (1909-1984), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 2nd District, 1963-64; Defeated in primary, 1965; Member of Michigan State Senate 5th District, 1967-78; Defeated in primary, 1964; Resigned 1978. African Methodist Episcopal
  • Andrew Cartwright, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Utah, 1952
  • ... (Another 36 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Dennis Cartwright (1966-1985), American Private from Silsbee, Texas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 17
HMAS Sydney II
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Thomas D Cartwright, English Captain serving for the Royal Marine from England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Cyril John Cartwright, English Leading Seaman from Plymouth, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, was lost in 1942 20
HMS Royal Oak
  • Wilfred Cartwright (1903-1939), British Engine Room Artificer 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 21
  • Charles P. Cartwright, British Chief Engine Room Artificer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 21
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. Henry Cartwright (b. 1835), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 22
  • Mr. Herbert Cartwright (b. 1862), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 22
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Harry Cartwright, English 2nd Class Cabin Bed Steward from Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. James Edward Cartwright (d. 1912), aged 32, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Minia 24

Suggested Readings for the name Cartwright +

  • Cartwright and Shipp Families of Lower Norfolk, Princess Anne and Surry Counties, Virginia and North Carolina by Alice Granbery Walter.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  18. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  19. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  20. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  21. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  22. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
  23. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  24. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Houseofnames.com on Facebook